Nou Hach

Nou Hach (Khmer: នូ ហាច) (1916 – 1975) was a famous Cambodian author, perhaps best known for his novel, Phka Sropoun. He was born in Battambang, and died during the Pol Pot regime.

Nou Hach
Born	26 June 1916 [1] Kampong Preah Commune, Sangkae District, Battambang, Cambodia[2][3]
Occupation	Author
Spouse(s)	Tan Rem
Parents	Khuon Nov (father) Or Muoch (mother)

Early life and education

Hach was born to a farming family in Kampong Preah Commune, Sangkae District, Battambang, Cambodia. He was the first child of his family. He studied at Wat Kampong Preah Primary School and could read Sastra Sloek Rith (សាស្ត្រាស្លឹករឹត), a kind of Khmer book made from leaves, very fluently.[4] In 1932, he passed the entrance exam at Preah Sisovath High School in Phnom Penh. He was very studious and hardworking, and graduated successfully.

Career

After graduation, he work as a jude in Siem Reap. In 1947, he became a publisher for Kampuchea Newspaper in the Ministry of information. Then he became the assistant of the prime minister Yutavong (យុត្តិវង្ស) in 1948. After that, he returned to the Ministry of Information and worked as the head of the department.[4]

In 1952, he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as Director in Directorate of Political Affairs (Director en Direction des Affaires Politiques). As Director, he was sent to have commission in Thailand, Yugoslavia and so on. Due to his good work, he was appointed as the Cambodian representative to Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as a special representative at United Nation.

In 1952, King Norodom Sihanouk appointed him as the secretary of Ministry of Public Works and Communication by Royal Decree 252.

On January 17, 1958, he became a member of the Khmer Writer Association, created by Rim Kin in 1954, according to Neak Nipun Khmer Magazine Year 2, Number 3, February 1996 Page 3.[5]

Personal life

Nou Hach married Tan Rem and had 8 children. Some of his children currently live in the United States and Australia. He was killed by the Khmer Rouge in 1975.[3]

Literary career and selected works

His best-known novel is Phka Sropoun. He also wrote numerous poems in French. In addition, he contributed to many magazines, such as Reatrey Thngai Sao Magazine, Neary Magazine, and Roum Mitt Magazine.

His other works include:[6]

Title	Title in Khmer	Year	Other
Phka Sropoun	ផ្កាស្រពោន	1949
Mealea Duong Chit	មាលាដួងចិត្ត	1972[7]
Truoy Chivit	ត្រួយជីវិត	1973
Meakthu Ruscheat	មធុរសជាតិ	1951	Neary Magazine Number 10 Page 353-356
Kon Krork	កូនក្រក	1953	French poem published in Roum Mitt Magazine Number 8, May 15, 1953 Page 15-16
Damner Chenh Tov Protes Barang (Departure to France)	ដំណើរចេញទៅប្រទេសបារាំង	1952	French poem published in Neary Magazine Number 11, November 11, 1951 Page 396
Khting	ខ្ទីង	1951	Example
Neary Cheaty Sneha	នារីជាទីស្នេហា	1953
Leavorn Ning Rovunt	លាវ័ណ្យ និង រវិន្ទ	1953-1955	Published Part 1 in 1953 and Part 2 in 1955
Lbat Koy knong Krea Muoy Nov Tonle Sap	ល្បាតគយក្នុងគ្រាមួយនៅទន្លេសាប	1952	Reatrey Thngai Sao Number 10, February 19, 1952 Page 29-31
Tho Bek (Broken Vase)	ថូបែក	1952	French poem published in Neary Magazine Number 13, January 1952 Page 11

References

1. "Biography of author who composed "Phka Sropoun"". kohsantepheapdaily.com.kh. bopha bopha. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
2. "នូហាច ជានរណា?". Sethikamak. Sethikamak. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
3. "Summary of Nou Hach's Biography". streetbiz99. Sstreetbiz99. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
4. "Nou Hach's Short Biography". cambosastra.org. CAMBOSASTRA. Archived from the original on 13 November 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
5. "Nou Hach Was a Famous Khmer Author". bizdoctors. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
6. "Nou Hach's Short Biography". khmerpali. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
7. "Mealea Doung Chit". CKS Library. Retrieved 15 November 2017.